Kayak Staten Island launches its season

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Kayak Staten Island (KayakStatenIsland.org) launches its free 10-event season May 30 from 1-6 p.m. at South Beach. The all-volunteer crew welcomes newbies and paddling pros alike to kayak in an embayment -- a roped-off area -- at the northern-most end of Capodanno Boulevard near Ocean Avenue.

"You have to rely on yourself to get where you're going and to make it move," says co-founder Katina Johnsonstone. "It's challenging, thrilling and very empowering."